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What is the quickest way to gain authority in Google's eyes?

It's almost hard asking this questions because I know SEO is a long term game. Still, I would like your opinion. I have a few successful ecommerce domains which have taken years to get where they currently are. I have a unique situation now.

I launched another website with a winter niche. The busiest months undoubtedly will be Sept through Decemeber. Do you have any tips on how I can quickly gain authority in the eyes of Google? (keep it white hat).

5 Responses

For truly competitive keywords, I don't think there are any white hat methods that will allow you to compete within your timeframe. These keywords typically require linkbuilding campaigns that are several months long, at least.

Your best bet is to really focus on keyword research - find some real long-tail winners that have a moderate amount of traffic and very little competition. Focus on these keywords, as well as your overall domain authority, and I think that encouraging results within the winter season would not be unrealistic.

It's one of those cases of picking your fights, but in my opinion, it's the best chance there is for success with a shortened timeframe and a brand new website.

I have to agree with James. I have found that if you can't get a link from a site with good PR get one that is an old domain that Google hits every day. I have a domain that is over 12 years old and gets posted to every week. Any link I put on this site will get indexed by Google within 24 hours. Make sure there is quality content on the site before you get the link.

Getting indexed is easy - any schmuck with a couple of social bookmarking profiles can get that done.

James -

The OP is talking about getting a significant amount of traffic from SEO in a relatively short time period. Obviously links are the answer, but for any truly competitive keyword, there is just no way to gain the volume of high quality links needed to compete within the mentioned timeframe. For this reason, I recommended careful keyword selection. If the OP can find some low competition but relatively high search volume keywords to target, he gives himself a shot at being able to achieve his goal within his timeframe. Telling him that he can have results for a very competitive keyword within this timeframe is to send him on a fool's errand.

Having success for very competitive keywords by employing black hat linkbuilding methods is certainly possible, but the longevity of the website is certainly put at risk, and this method was precluded by the OP anyways. This leaves two possible avenues with which the OP can proceed:

1) Target extremely competitive keywords and fail.

2) Use careful keyword selection to find keywords that can be dominated within the next few months, and focus on the tough keywords for next year.

MHoeffnerDirector of Interactive Marketing and Web Operations at OPUBCO Communications Group

Oct 07, 2011

High PageRank links from sites that do not rank well for your specific keyword are some of the most overrated and toughest links to get. The best links, that are also often much easier to get, come from sites ranking highest for the exact match keyword you are targeting. Often times, you will find these sites and they will not have high PR, but nonetheless, these sites have the highest authority in the eyes of Google. Build relationships with these sites and get links from them. You will move up the rankings for the most competitive terms.

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